Beggars hungry for a fix
Desperate beggars sell donated food for half the price to get money for a fix.
After years of speculation about the motives of the beggars of Krugersdorp, news journalist Marizka Coetzer stumbled upon some evidence about the so-called hungry addicts.
Visiting one of the businesses on Luipaard Street, Coetzer got a clearer insight into the wheeling and dealing of those begging for food on the streets of Krugersdorp.
The workers at a local business told the news how they buy McDonalds meals for half the price from local beggars in the area.
One claimed he can buy a McDonalds Share Box for R60 and a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal for R30.
While talking to the workers, one of the regular beggars was spotted crossing Luipaard Street.
Coetzer hid behind parked vehicles in an attempt to catch the beggar red-handed, but her camera flash went off and he saw her.
The beggar, who is 32 years old, approached Coetzer.
After an exchange of words the beggar, who wanted to be known as Logan, told his side of the story.
Logan confessed his drug addiction and admitted to selling donated food.
He claimed that on the day he was spotted selling the McDonalds meal he had received from a caring resident he already had eaten for the day.
Furthermore he claimed the fast food goes stale very quickly and he needed the money instead.
Lost in translation he told Coetzer there is a reason why he cannot work hence he begs, or ‘spins’.
Spinners are the males who live in Sivewright Street. They spin stories to the community to get money.
Like the sex workers, Logan told Coetzer how he struggles to kick the habit owing to the deadly withdrawal symptoms.
He told of how he had ended up in hospital before because he was bleeding from his ears while withdrawing.
After agreeing to disagree, Logan said, “I rather would spin people a story for money, even if I need to tell a little white lie, than to steal from them.”
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